2025/26 SEASON OPEN REHEARSALS
CALENDAR
OPEN REHEARSAL: Solomon
Thursday 9 October, 11.00am
Tufnell Park, Acland Burghley School, Assembly Hall
One of his final masterpieces, Handel’s Solomon is one of the richest of his oratorios. Debuted in Covent Garden in 1749, Solomon grasped the ideas of both a heavenly and earthly love, as it follows the three pinnacles of a biblical king’s life: the building of the temple, the judgement and the visit of Queen Sheba.
Join the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and our illuminating soloists at Acland Burghley School as they rehearse under the direction of OAE Principal Artist, John Butt.
Available to: All Friends and Patrons
OPEN REHEARSAL: Mozart’s World: a little night music
Monday 19 January 2026, 11.00am
Tufnell Park, Acland Burghley School, Assembly Hall
“Never would I have thought that a clarinet could be capable of imitating the human voice as deceptively as it is imitated by you. Truly your instrument has so soft and lovely a tone that nobody with a heart could resist it.” Mozart in a letter to Anton Stadler, the Austrian clarinetist whom he wrote the concerto for.
In this project, our Principal Clarinet Katherine Spencer takes up the baton (or the clarinet) from Stadler as she performs Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto framed by pieces by Haydn and Arriaga.
Available to: Supporting, Bronze, Silver & Gold Friends and all Patrons
OPEN REHEARSAL: It shall certainly not bend and crush me entirely
Sunday 8 February 2026, 2.00pm
Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall
Written frantically to his brother, the year 1805 was one of distress and battle for Beethoven as he faced losing his hearing. It seems as his hearing diminished, his creativity grew, composing both his Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 in the years 1804 and 1805.
Delve behind-the-scenes to see how Adam Fischer approaches the two symphonies with a period ensemble and get an insight into this unique relationship between conductor and players.
Available to: Supporting, Bronze, Silver & Gold Friends and all Patrons
OPEN REHEARSAL: Mozart’s World: The last symphonies
Tuesday 24 February 2026, AM
Venue TBC
1788 was a year of inspiration for Mozart as he composed this trio of symphonies. The intent for this trio has led to a series of theories: a premonition of impending death or the centerpieces for concerts he was planning in Frankfurt and Vienna perhaps?
Join the Orchestra behind-the-scenes with guest conductor Robin Ticciati, Music Director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, as we take on Mozart’s final symphonies.
Available to: Silver & Gold Friends and all Patrons
OPEN REHEARSAL: St John Passion
Sunday 29 March 2026, 2.00pm
Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Thomaskantor to Liepzig, Bach’s duty to write church music neither too operatic nor too long resulted in his first passion St John Passion. Following Christ’s betrayal and death the passion, although not operatic, is certainly a dramatic and soul-grasping piece.
Watch the the Orchestra and guest conductor Johanna Soller rehearse this piece just hours before they perform on stage in their very first concert together.
Available to: All Friends and Patrons
OPEN REHEARSAL:
The Creation
Sunday 29 March 2026, 2.00pm
Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall
Follow the Orchestra to the depths of the Universe to dawn in the Garden of Eden guided by conductor Václav Luksas they rehearse Haydn’s masterpiece The Creation.
Sit amongst the players and be immersed within the creative process behind this project.
Available to: Chair, Aria, Project, Season & Prinicpal Patrons
OPEN REHEARSAL: Symphonie Fantastique
Wednesday 9 June 2026, 11.00am
London, Henry Wood Hall
This programme features Harold in Italy for viola and orchestra, commissioned by prominent violinist Paganini, and will be performed by Viola Timthoy Ridout.
Accompanying this is the fantastical Symphonie Fanatastique directed by Sir Simon Rattle.
Go behind the curtain and witness Sir Simon Rattle and the Orchestra reunite as they discuss and rehearse these two symphonic pieces.
Available to: Members of the Forty Circle and invited guests
OPEN REHEARSAL: Vienna 1897: Brahms’ Last Concert
Tuesday 23 June 2026, 11.00am
London, Henry Wood Hall
Conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev and with cellist
Steven Isserlis CBE, the Orchestra perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, Haydn’s Symphony No. 73 and Brahm’s Symphony No. 4, played at his final concert, for the finale of our season.
Watch two old friends of the OAE rehearse together with the Orchestra (including Steven’s siblings) the final day before the concert.
Available to: Supporting, Bronze, Silver & Gold Friends and all Patrons